One World Weblog

It’s Time to “Brew the Right Thing!” — Eco Consciousness of Sumatran Coffees

Every now and again we need to remind ourselves why eco-consciousness is so important for the coffee industry. From a distance the idea of imperiled rainforests and
faraway jungles seems so vague and out of reach that it’s easy for us to overlook the damage we do to them. As we feature One World Roasters’ Sumatra Mandheling this month, we also stop to consider
the endangered animals that inhabit this remarkable part of the world and how we can help them.

In addition to being a fantastic setting for rich and complex coffees, the
world’s sixth largest island is also one of the greatest biological melting pots in the world. Sumatra and Borneo are the only places in nature where tigers, elephants, rhinos, and
orangutans coexist, and unfortunately all of four of these animals are greatly endangered in these habitats. Rapid deforestation in these regions has been driven over the last several decades by
conversion of fertile animal habitats into Robusta coffee growing farms.

As coffee consumers and vendors we have the power to make a difference for these animals. Through informed purchasing habits and vigilance we can help
protect these remarkable creatures and help them live better, less impacted lives:

• Look for Sumatras and other coffees from brands that offer maximum transparency as to where and how their beans were grown. Were they grown
legally? Were they harvested on protected animal territories? Were their farmers paid a fair wage? These are important considerations and ways situations like Nestle’s recent debacle can be avoided.

• “Adopt a Tiger” and other endangered animals – Organizations like the World Wildlife Federation offer many
different support options that allow people around the world to make life just a little better for endangered animals in places like Sumatra, Borneo, and other threatened habitats.